Division II State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee!</strong> Here's the&nbsp;link to the event page:&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the lone class of the seven that saw the top four teams in the final Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association poll make it to the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Ursula Bulldogs from the Girls Greater Catholic League had been ranked at the top until the final poll that slid them to second. Gretchen Krumdieck guided St. Ursula to state championships as a player in the 1990s and has helped the Bulldogs (21-4) get over the hump in the region championship with a 3-1 (25-13, 20-25, 25-23, 25-16) victory over Loveland. The Bulldogs are back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2003 and 12th time overall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Krumdieck said the Bulldogs are clicking at the right time. The Bulldogs tied Ursuline (Cincinnati) and Seton for the GGCL title at 6-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are loaded starting with junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'], a University of Tennessee commit, who leads the GGCL with 415 digs. She makes smooth passes to experienced setter [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'], who has 817 assists on the season. From there, the Bulldogs have a number of hitting options in All-District Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'], [player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'], [player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski'], Lauren Dorger and [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones']. Creech leads the GGCL with 350 kills. Penelope Bolinger and [player_tooltip player_id='403535' first='Maddie' last='Cho'] have also made big saves. St. Ursula junior setter Isla Roney said the team is really connected staying consistent with the offense and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Ursula plays Wadsworth at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Kettering Fairmont High School. Wadsworth is ranked fourth in the final OHSVCA Division II poll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wadsworth (24-2) comes into the game on a 17-game winning streak after edging Olmstead Falls, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13) in the region championship. The Grizzlies won the Suburban League - National Conference with a perfect 14-0 run. This marks the first appearance at state for the Grizzlies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior 5-9 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='735045' first='Lauren' last='Decker'] leads the Grizzlies with 428 kills. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='712325' first='Rowan' last='Kelly'] has 812 assists on the season and senior Maddie Blackburn has a team-high 341 digs. Kelly also has 145 kills with Lilly McComas, [player_tooltip player_id='521593' first='Karley' last='Allwood'] and Quinn Macko putting up at least 110 kills on the season. Emily Snyder and Riley Ishee have also been big contributors on defense for the Grizzlies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first game at 6 p.m. features top-ranked Anthony Wayne against the third-ranked Avon Eagles. Both are appearing in the state tournament for the first time in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Wayne (24-1) has won 19 in a row coming into the game, winning the Northern Lakes League with a 14-0 mark. Two 5-11 juniors [player_tooltip player_id='403527' first='Leah' last='Pike'] and [player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] lead the Generals with 417 and 358 kills, respectively and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='732846' first='Charley' last='Gardner'] has 250. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='476378' first='Aubrey' last='Rieger'] has 794 assists and six players have triple-digit assists led by Ryan Dzierwa with 286.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avon (24-2) has won five in a row entering Thursday. The Eagles won the Southwestern Conference with a 13-1 mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5-9 junior outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='401341' first='Londyn' last='Stone'] leads the Eagles with 350 kills to go with 248 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='728725' first='Bethany' last='Sherwood'] and Lily Hamilton follow with 212 and 191 kills, respectively. The Eagles see Hamilton and Kaitlyn Pojman split the setting duties with 389 and 342 assists, respectively. Six different Avon players have at least 101 digs. Senior Addie Reinart leads the way with 270.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The semifinal winners come back Saturday at 11 a.m. at Wright State's Nutter Center for the state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403535"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672ad24289d7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cho (pictured) comes in and does a great job giving the Bulldogs big touches in the back. She squares her arms up with balls to make good passes. Cho puts up quality serves landing big aces for St. Ursula. Cho has 126 digs and 29 aces on the season for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480821"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672ad38e2f59c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones gives the Bulldogs size on the front line. She doubles with the other front line players for huge blocks. Jones takes big swings at the net and can transition from defense to offense quickly. She possesses sold fundamental passing skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["712325"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672ad469be9dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kelly gives the Grizzlies versatility and size at the net. Kelly gets a number of players involved in the offense setting balls up at different angles. Kelly can take hard swings to put balls down as well. The Ohio University commit has 812 assists and 145 kills on the season for Wadsworth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403527"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672ad85429d0c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pike is dynamic at the net for the Generals constantly finding ways to put balls past defenders and down. Pike can go off blocks and by defenders with her sound follow-through spikes. Pike can hit balls from different parts of the net including creases and from the pins on slide attacks. Pike has 417 kills on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401341"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672ad85429d89"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stone does a great job moving her feet before balls get to the setter then takes strong approaches to the net hitting balls to different parts of the court. Stone can hit balls off blockers and make things happen out of system. Stone is not afraid to use her off hand to surprise defenders. Stone is also a good passer for the Eagles. Stone has 350 kills and 248 digs on the season for Avon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->